Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-01-14
GOV ERNOR'S MESSAGE.
lConii"ucd from First H,gc.

very large portion OF these charges
arises from examinations at felony eases
before Justices, under chapter lott, Code.
Although the examination l. only Tor the
purpose Of .uSccrtauing whether there be
sufficient cause To charge the accused with
the alleged uilru>r, cloud ct witnesses Is
often summoned. and all the expense of a
regular trial Incurred. The State hts had
to pay the costs oi Is hugh is hundred
WITNESSES, IN u single such examination.
Experience te,,chy, that there are but
| few c,lSt-S wherein complaints OF felony are
made, that a Justice can properly discharge
a prisoner; hut Is compelled either to COM
amt to jail, or take reco%uiLJucc lo!apprar-
sncc in thr Circuit Court. II seems TO me
that, in these merely preliminary cNImIua-
tions, there can be-, with entire Justice 10
the accused. and certainly, with q great
saving OF the States r., ruur. Spcritjyd
examination lee tor the Justice, and . Ilmlt
piacrd upon the number Of WITNESSES both
Tor the State and the accused.
am convinced also that remedy can
be devised TO materially diminish the costs
md expenses in the conduct and trial OF
criminal cases in the Circuit Courts.
II is not an uncommon thing Tor from
fifty Ia one hundred witnesses tn he sum
muuvd for the State i'm Il felony ease, he
\ Kept in attendance on the Court for days,
and, finally, theC;lSU be continued 10 I sub
,rgueut term, and the same expense again
ruttilyd An examination in the Auditors
office shows that the eases are numerous
where the charges against the state Tor wit
npSs fees alone run from II, 900 10 5000
in a single caSe. Such large numbers Of
witnesses indicate almost without eNCcp-
ton, one of two things; either th At the cvi-
Lcncc Is but cumulative, or that Il large
number Of witnesses when examined are
found to know nothing of importance bear
me- upon the merits OF the case.
should not. under any circumstances,
request the passage of any law, that would
ur the slightest degree, deprive an accused
ola fair trial, or hamper the State in the
punishment Of crime: hut ~ far rs it can
G,. done. consistently with Justice, | rec
o,umcud that such power and direction rs,
900 your Judgment, will best SuhSrryc the
interests OF the State, in the economical
conduct OF criminal proceedings. be- con-
t,.rrcd upou the courts and prosecuting At
torneys.
| can not too earnestly urge yuu To give
suecial attention to all uf the foregoing
subjects relating to the expenditure ct pub
he MONEYS Observation and examination
will thoroughly Justify me in saying, that
!. the remedies have suggested heappilcd,
the result will be- an annual saving to the
state of not less than S2O.OuO.
APPOINTMENT on, AND ALLOWANCES 10,
PHYSICIANS To ATTEND rEISuNEES ~
JAIL
Under See. :. CHI. IGl, Code the power
toappoint Jail physicians, and fix their at
IowanceS, is vested in the Circuit Courts.
With the exception OF very few coun-
ties, the Jail physicians are appointed,
with no limit placed upon their charges
I'm many eases, the physician has visited
the Jail, prescribed Tor large number OF
prl~nncls, on the single visit AMI charged,
aud had allowed, from II ~ to Sl.5u Tor
each prescription. with the drug bill to he
y,,id Tor also, Us a separate item. Inc Ie-
suit has been an enormous AMI unnecessary
charge upon the State treasury for lunatlcN
and persons charged with felony, and upon
the counties for persons charged with ms
demeanOrs.
recommend that See. ;, Chapter lGl,
Code be amended 81 ~ To require the at
tending physician to furnish all drugs and
rive proper attention tu all persons con
fined in Jail, whether lunatIcS or persons
charged with felony or miSdemcanor, for
stipulated and fixed annual allowance;
and the court, after public advertisement,
i'm the usual way for legal proceedings, to
receive bids i'm open court. upon 4 special
day, and award the appointment ct the
physician To the lowest responsible bidder,
rt-erying tn the court the power al re-
moval for failure or neglect OF duty.
have consulted physicians upon thus
subject and am satisfied that the mode
here suggested is not only practicable, Int
will save the State and counties thousands
Of dollars annually.
ALLOWANCE FOR NANTES NNCE OF LENA
TICS IN JAIL.
I-pon the decision ct a justice, after
asceTtainiug. ON examination, that such
person Is lunatiC such person, unless
bond be given unGrr section -, chapter
- Code. must he Kept i'll the county Jail
At the expense OF the State, until there be
a vacancy in, and such person removed TO.
the Hospital.
Under section b, chapter -, Code,
there was no limit to the allowance that
might he fixed by the Circuit Court for the
maintenance of such lunaticS, and the
charges and allowances range from 6O cents
10 Sl.OO day for each lunatlc. The
Legislature, by chapter 81, Acts l-~!, Inn
tied the allowance to 90 cents day Tor
each lnnatic. This act of lsS2 wasrcpealed
i'm 1883. by chapter 50, Acts OF that
wear. and since that time tine charges have
been from 90 cents to 50 a day for each
hpatic. II is evident that the great ma
iority Of lunatics receive no greater atteh-
lion in their Jail confinement than other
nersons there confined; and except III rare
-. there shnmld be no greater charge Tor